Fushimi Clay Doll
Edo Period
11.7 cm high x 10.8 cm wide
Cat. 255546
Part of the Boone Collection
© The Field Museum
This Fushimi clay doll is a depiction of Daikoku with a rat. It is typical of clay dolls made in Fushimi in color, form, and topic, with light, subtle gray-blues and a childlike Daikoku. Daikoku is one of the shichi fukujin, or seven lucky gods, in Japanese Buddhism, and is associated with wealth and abundance of food. He is associated with the rat, which is also found in places with abundant food. He is depicted with a rat for this reason.
(Commentary by Helena Stenberg)